CNET News Video: New hardware captures E3 buzz

CNET News Video: New hardware captures E3 buzz

1:27 /
June 8, 2011

The Electronic Entertainment Expo wraps up on Thursday, but this year's event was packed with announcements and releases that didn't disappoint the gaming faithful. CNET's Kara Tsuboi reports from Los Angeles.

-The big names in the gaming industry flocked to Los Angeles for this year's E3, the Super Bowl of gaming.
-E3 is like the biggest event in video games.
It's been running for 15, 16 years now.
It grew out of the Consumer Electronics Show essentially where, you know, where games used to go there.
-As predicted, the three major console makers, Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo, held showy press conferences, but only two had buzz-worthy announcements.
-So the two biggest stories to come out of this year's E3, Nintendo's new console, the Wii U, and then Sony, they have the PlayStation Vita.
-Experts say those devices are a sign that gaming is going mainstream.
-It's a living room experience, it's for mom, it's for the kids, it's for the grandparents.
-Here are some surprising statistics.
According to the Entertainment Software Association, the company that owns E3, 42% of gamers are female, and the average age of a gamer?
37 years old.
But having a bigger audience also brings a new set of challenges.
-Well, it's a very fragile time for games.
I mean, Apple is taking a huge chunk out of gaming, and you've got these iPhones and iPads and these systems, Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony, there's a question of why do you need those if you can also play those games.
-But to the more than 40,000 people who are expected to attend the show this year, the industry is alive and well.
In Los Angeles, I'm Kara Tsuboi, CNET.com for CBS News.